Time is not as simple as it seems. It can have a profound impact on human emotion, decision-making, even narrative arcs. AGBO believes a clever manipulation of time not only enhances storytelling depth, but also invites audiences to question their perceptions and realities.

OFFICIAL PROMPT: In this challenge, participants are required to create a short film that explores and manipulates the concept of time. Whether it's sped up, slowed down, time travel, time loops, or various timelines, make us rethink our understanding of time within storytelling.

Submission Deadline: Sunday, October 1, 2023 @ 5:00pm PST

PARTICIPANT SIGN UP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPFwoWWX21POXw-d0blebkwcmW8KO9MekvdxhwF5YvDKmNmQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

ABOUT

Welcome to AGBO’s third annual global filmmaking competition for emerging creators, “No Sleep ‘til Film Fest.” The virtual short film festival invites filmmakers to make a short movie in only 48 hours and opens for submissions on September 29th. Three winners will be selected by the Russo Brothers and creative executives at AGBO.

Part of AGBO’s commitment to championing emerging content creators, the two-day festival challenges participants to make bite-sized films, three minutes or less, for a chance to win prizes and mentorship from the independent studio. The virtual festival will be open world-wide for submissions from September 29th – October 1st with a creative prompt released online September 29th at 5pm PT; filmmakers will have 48 hours to create and submit their films based off of the prompt by 5pm PT on October 1st. Winners will be announced November 8th.

AGBO’s “No Sleep ‘til Film Fest” received over 1400 submissions from over 60 countries in the past two years of the festival. 2022 winners included “P E N” directed by Waldo Levendal (South Africa), “Trade” directed by Joel Phillips (Australia), and “Movie, The Film: A Motion Picture” directed by Clay Lacey.

The panel of judges include AGBO Co-Founders Anthony and Joe Russo, Chief Creative Officer Angela Russo-Otstot, Chief Innovation Officer Jake Aust, Chief Marketing Officer Marian Koltai-Levine, President of Film Michael Disco and President of Television Scott Nemes. The AGBO executives will select three winning films to premiere across the AGBOVERSE as well as AGBO’s social channels, and winners will receive prizes provided in sponsorship by RED Digital Camera, GoPro, Microsoft, Blackmagic Design, AGBO, and Red Bull.

First place will receive a RED Komodo Starter Pack, a new GoPro action camera, a Surface Pro 9 from Microsoft, a copy of DaVinci Resolve Studio from Blackmagic Design, AGBO merch and a Red Bull swag bag [Red Bull Records customized U-Turn Turntable, Custom Speaker, a collection of Vinyl from Red Bull Records, Swell Water Bottle.] Both runners up will receive a new camera from GoPro, a Surface Pro 9 from Microsoft, a copy of DaVinci Resolve Studio from Blackmagic Design, merch from AGBO and a swag bag from Red Bull.

All three winners will join the AGBO Storytellers Collective, an alumni network of participants from other AGBO fellowship programs. The current Storytellers Collective members will also participate in judging, selecting an additional winning filmmaker to receive the “AGBO Storytellers Collective Award” and join the alumni network.

HOW THIS WORKS:
On Friday, September 29th at 5:00pm PST, the festival prompt will be posted online. Participants have until 5:00pm PST on Sunday, October 1st to submit films. Films and additional materials must be submitted via our FilmFreeway submission page only, and we’ll announce the winners on Wednesday, November 8th.

Awards & Prizes

PRIZES

AGBO executives will select three winning films to premiere across the AGBOVERSE as well as AGBO’s social channels, and winners will receive prizes provided in sponsorship by RED Digital Camera, GoPro, Microsoft, Blackmagic Design, Final Draft, AGBO, and Red Bull.

All three winners will join the AGBO Storytellers Collective, an alumni network of participants from other AGBO fellowship programs. 

1st Place: RED KOMODO Starter Pack, a new GoPro action camera, a Surface Pro 9 from Microsoft, a copy of DaVinci Resolve Studio from Blackmagic Design, a copy of Final Draft screenwriting software, AGBO merch and a Red Bull swag bag [Red Bull Records customized U-Turn Turntable, Custom Speaker, a collection of Vinyl from Red Bull Records, Swell Water Bottle.]

2nd & 3rd Place: a new camera from GoPro, a Surface Pro 9 from Microsoft, a copy of DaVinci Resolve Studio from Blackmagic Design, a copy of Final Draft screenwriting software, merch from AGBO and a swag bag from Red Bull. 

AGBO Storytellers Collective Award:The current Storytellers Collective members will also participate in judging, selecting an additional winning filmmaker to receive the “AGBO Storytellers Collective Award” and join the alumni network.

Rules & Terms

FESTIVAL RULES

You must be over the age of 13 to submit your film. If you are 18 or older you may register for yourself or on behalf of your team. If you are not over the age of 18, your parent or legal guardian must submit the film on your behalf with the parental consent form.

You have 48 Hours. On ___September 29th 2023___at 5:00pm PT, we’ll post the Festival prompt and guidelines to this page and to AGBO socials. You then have until 5:00pm PST on ___October 1st 2023_______ to submit your film. Upload your film and additional materials via our submission page. Submissions received after 5:00pm PST on ___October 1st 2023____ may not be eligible for consideration. All creativity must take place during this 48-Hour window. Any creative work in advance of the competition weekend is prohibited. Creative work includes, but is not limited to: Writing the script, Rehearsing, Costume/Set Design, Shooting, Editing, Sound Design, Rendering, Uploading your film to our submission page. The only work to begin prior to the challenge’s announcement is: Forming your team (organizing cast & crew), Scouting locations, and Gathering equipment.

Respond creatively to our prompt. The film prompt will be open-ended. It’s up to you to create an engaging universe for your film.

Keep films to a maximum total runtime of 3 minutes. Films must adhere to a minimum total runtime of 30 seconds, and a maximum total runtime of 3 minutes. These are the length of the entry not including end credits. Credits must be less than 15 seconds.

Keep content kid-friendly. In general, the entries must not be indecent or obscene. Please use MPA’s PG-13 rating rubric as a guideline for acceptable content.

You are welcome to submit films in any language. Subtitles are optional but encouraged.

Adhere to our acceptable use of VFX, Stock Footage, Copyright Materials. Animation and special effects are permitted but must be created after the challenge’s announcement. No stock footage or footage shot or created at another time may be used unless the footage is part of a post-production effect or on a background monitor, i.e., a television, as long as the team has rights to the stock footage and the stock footage is placed over or under footage that is shot within the Official Time Period. Allowable stock footage includes bullets, fires, explosions, chromakeyed backgrounds, etc., but stock footage of people or other performers is not allowed. You must have authorization if copyrighted material is used. This includes music, video, and any other materials that someone else has created. (e.g., you may not use a popular song as the film’s soundtrack unless you have written permission.)

Submission Materials. When submitting your film, please follow the Film Freeway form. If you are under the age of 18, a parental consent form must be signed by your parent or legal guardian.

Union Members. Please note SAG has restrictions on posting films with SAG actors on the web. SAG members may wish to check with SAG if they can participate in this challenge. Also, be sure to check with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA and review the most up-to-date information on their websites, WGA.org and SAGAFTRA.org, if you have any questions about compliance with strike rules.

Late Films. If you miss the deadline, keep working and upload your submission materials as soon as you can.

Terms and Conditions: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15ujjXFPKN5JeioVO5Cb16WwO0YhBDaCi/view?usp=sharing

Parental Consent Form: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1owN2W7c7v0fNOHRDZbC6Py7AHrAtOFg5/view?usp=sharing

CONTACT

If you have a question during the festival, please email nosleep@agbo.com. The team will respond as quickly as possible, but response time may vary.